POLICE are investigating reports of sectarian chanting directed at Rangers manager Steven Gerrard by Aberdeen fans.

The alleged incident came during the Pittodrie side's  Scottish Cup quarter-final replay victory at Ibrox on Tuesday.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said they "are aware of this matter and enquiries are ongoing".

The fans were heard chanting the sectarian ‘Cheer up…’ song which contains the line 'sad Orange b*****d'  at Gerrard after last night’s win over Rangers at Ibrox.

After the match Nil By Mouth,  Scotland's leading anti-sectarian charity said: "Depressing to hear reports of more sectarian abuse at football last night. This time [it was]  directed toward Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. [It's] pathetic to turn up at a game to spout this crap."

But it came under fire on social media for speaking out about it.

Writer and publisher Kevin Williamson, the co-founder of the pro-independence media website Bella Caledonia told the charity:"An organisation who claim to be leading the fight v sectarianism in Scotland - for the 1st time this year on Twitter - criticise a football club's fans for sectarian singing.

"The club is .... Aberdeen. For singing sectarian songs at.... Ibrox. Is this a parody account?"

The Herald: Nil By Mouth campaign director Dave Scott

Nil By Mouth hit back saying: "You should spend less time on Twitter then Kevin. We’ve spoken out about sectarian abuse at a host of matches this season. And if you took the time to look at our timelines you’d have seen that."

Last month Nil By Mouth football chiefs for “doing nothing” to tackle sectarian behaviour by yob fans.

The charity director Dave Scott took aim at game bosses after Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke was subjected to a torrent of insults by Rangers fans.

He said strict liability was the “only way” to target the large scale abuse Clarke, 55, was subjected to during Wednesday night’s Scottish Cup clash.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week warned clubs to sort out fans’ bigoted behaviour or her Government will step in.

A Rangers spokesperson said after the game: "The match delegate is aware of sectarian chants from some Aberdeen fans and it is up to the SFA to deal with that."